Apparatus for performing an operation upon failure of removal of a collapsible tube from an extruding plunger of an extruding machine



F, REMINGTON ETAL 2,699,252 APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING AN OPERATION UPON FAILURE OF REMOVAL OF' A COLLAPSIBLE.' TUBE FROM AN EXTRUDING PLUNGER oF AN EXTRUDING MACHINE Filed sept. 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l RlcHHRD HTHRTHGLIH,

ATTORTY BND Jan. 11, 1955 O AL 2,699,252

OPERATION UPON FAILURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORJ` Hamam@ Rmmenom HND RzcHHRDHTQRTHGUH. L

BY ATTORNEY Jan. ll, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wwf/vrom.'

REDERIC REMINGTON HND RICHHRD PLTHRTHGILIHv BY /Lfzf ATTORNEY REMINGTON ET RFORMING AN Jan. 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PLUNGER oF Filed sept. 15, 1949 IN V EN TORJ PfsDERlc Rar/mmm FWD RICHHRD H. BY @Mommy THRTHGLIH,

-a power press, and

United States Patent O Frederic Remington, Elizabeth, and Richard A. Tartaglia,

East Orange, N. J., assignors to Peerless Tube Company, Bloomfield, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 13, 1949, Serial No. 115,378 3 Claims. (Cl. 2072) This invention relates in general to the manufacture of collapsible tubes that are commonly used for packaging tooth paste, toilet creams, paints, glue, and other products.

In the manufacture of such collapsible tubes, a slug of metal is placed in a die, for example, on the bed of a plunger carried by a reciprocating forced into the die under high pressure so as to cause the metal to flow along the plunger, thereby to produce a tube having a cylindrical body portion of irregular length, a sloping shoulder and a neck. It is necessary to remove or strip the collapsible tube from the plunger, and of the head of the head in the press, is

the plunger. However, considerable waste of power, time and space is involved in such long strokes of the head of the press.

In our co-pending application, Serial No. 80,162, filed March 18, 1949,- now Patent No. 2,600,921, we have reciprocating head of the machine less than the length of the collapsible tube and yet the tube can be easily, quickly and automatically removed or stripped from the plunger, whereby collapsible tubes can be rapidly produced with a minimum of power, in combination with means for stripping or removing the collapsible tube from the extruding plunger.

The present invention contemplates novel and improved means for performing a certain operation, for example the stopping of the machine or the actuation of a signal,

provide means of this character which shall include a switch actuated upon removal of a collapsible tube from the plunger, and another continuously operated switch which is alternately opened and at the proper time.

ther objects are to provide a novel and improved combination of such apparatus or mechanism with means for stripping collapsibletubes from the extruding plunger; to provide apparatus of the character described which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction and reliable in operation; and to obtain other advantages and results that will be brought out by the following descriptilcn in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in w ich:

Figure l is a schematic front elevational view of a machine for extruding collapsible tubes embodying the invention showing the parts in tube-removing position and with portions broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View with the parts in the position corresponding to the broken line positions of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of certain of the parts in the positions shown in Figure 3 and in heavy broken lines in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 plunger withdrawn from the die and with tube thereon; and,

showing the a collapsible Figure 6 is a schematic view or wiring diagram showing the connection of the switches in circuit with the mechanism under control.

For the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention, it has been shown in conjunction with a generally known type of a power press, portions of which have been omitted because they have no bearing on the invention. More particularly, the press includes a bed A at the opposite sides of which are vertical side pieces B in each of which is a vertical slideway (C opposed to the slideway of the other side piece for guiding the vertical reciprocation of the head D of the press which is reciprocated vertically by any suitable power driven mechanism (not shown), for example, the well known type 0f toggle mechanism actuated from a horizontal drive shaft which is connected to a suitable source of power through a clutch mechanism that may be manually or automatically controlled, for example, electromagnetically through the manual operation of a push button.

vOn the bed of the press is mounted a die E in which is a cylindrical die cavity 1 that has an inverted frustoconical wall 2 at the smaller end of which is a coaxial recess or opening 3.

Cooperative with the die is a plunger 4 having the usual frusto-conical end 5 and a coaxial mandrel projecthe plunger 4 being of a diameter less than the diameter of the die cavity and the mandrel projection being of a diameter less than the recess 3.

With this construction, when a slug 7 of metal of a volume to give a collapsible tube of the desired size and weight is placed in the die cavity, as shown in Figure 4, and the plunger 4 is forced downwardly into the cavity against the slug, the metal of the latter is caused to flow, first tending to till the die cavity and then flow backwardly or upwardly along the exterior surface of the plunger to form the tubular body 8 of a collapsible tube F, as shown in Figure l. As the plunger completes its downward stroke, the sloping shoulder 9 and the closed neck 10 of the juxtaposed surfaces of the plunger and die.

Means is provided for automatically manipulating the plunger so that the tube can be removed therefrom upon an upward movement of the plunger a distance substantially less than the length of the tube. As shown, the plunger is connected one end of an arm 1 1,

a suitable bearing 13 in the head D of the press. The arm 11 is adapted to be swung horizontally by and about the axis of the shaft 12 so as to move the extruding plunger 4 alternately from a position above and in register or alinement with the die cavity 1, as shown in light broken lines in Figure 2, to a position at one side of the die B for the removal or stripping of the tube from the plunger, as shown in Figures 1 and 5.

For oscillating the shaft 12, we have schematically illustrated a horizontal slide 14 supported on guide brackets 15 on the head D of the press and carrying a rack bar 16 which meshes with a pinion 17 that is rigidly connected to the shaft 12. One end of the slide 14 carries a roller 18 which runs in an inclined or cam groove 19 formed in a block 20 secured to the frame of the press, so that upon the first portion of the upward movement of the press head D, the plunger will be moved vertically out of the die cavity (see Figures 3 and 4 and light broken lines in Figure 2) and then the slide 14 will be pulled to the right of Figure 1 and thereby rotate the shaft 12 to swing the arm 11 and the plunger 4 outwardly away from the die into the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cam groove is shaped so that the plunger will be momentarily held in the the shaft 12 will be rotated to swing the plunger 4 above and into vertical register or alinement with the die cavity 1, as shown in Figure 5 and by light broken lines in Figure 2. While the plunger is in the last-mentioned position, a slug is placed in the die cavity and continued downward movement of the press head causes an extrusion of the slug to form a tube F or. the plunger, the

cam groove 19 being properly shaped as pointed out to cause first a swinging movement of the arm 11 and then to permit downward movement of the press head without further swinging of said arm.

For removing the tube from the plunger, we have shown a stripping head G which is movable longitudinally of the plunger 4 and is mounted at one end of a bracket arm 21 the other end of which is rigidly connected to a tubular slide 22 which is slidably reciprocable on the shaft 12. The stripping head G has a lining of suitable material to frictionally engage the plunger 4 and to abut the open or upper end of a tube F so as to push the tube off the plunger during downward movement of the stripping head on the plunger, as best shown in Figure l.

' Means for reciprocating the tubular slide 22 is provided and comprises a fork 24 which embraces the slide and has its arms pivotally connected thereto, as indicated at 25, said fork having a shank 26 the end of which opposite the fork is slidably mounted in a socket 27 formed in a rocker bar 28 which is journaled at its ends in the side pieces B of the press frame, as indicated at 29, so as to oscillate about a horizontal axis. A pair of spaced arms 30 project from the rocker bar at the side of its pivots 29` opposite the fork and are pivotally connected to one end of a link 31, the other end of which passes through a slot 32 in an arm 33 which projects rigidly from the press head D, a collar or washer 34 being secured on the link 31 above said arm 33 so that upon upward movement of the press head the link will be pulled upwardly to swing the rocker bar 28 and move the fork 24 and slide 22 downwardly. The rocker bar is swung in the other direction by tension springs 35 that are connected between pins 36 on the rocker bar and lugs 37 on the bed of the press.

In operation of the stripping mechanism and assuming the plunger 4 to be in the tube-extruding position shown in Figure 3, the first portion of the upward movement of the press head withdraws the plunger and tube from the die cavity, whereupon the slide 14 is actuated to swing the arm 11 and the plunger outwardly or forwardly away from the die, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. Then, continued upward movement of the press head will cause actuation of the rocker bar 28 to force the slide 22 and the stripping head G downwardly until the collapsible tube has been pushed completely off the plunger, as shown in Figure 1. Then, upon the beginning of the descent of the press head, the rocker bar 28 will be actuated to raise the stripping head G and the slide 14 will actuate the arm 11 to return the plunger into alinement with the die cavity in readiness for the next extruding operation.

In accordance with the invention, means is also provided for performing a certain operation in case the stripping mechanism fails to remove a tube from the plunger 4, for example, to actuate a visible or audible signal or to control the actuation of mechanism for stopping the press, As shown, this means includes a trip roller 38 mounted on one end of a lever 39 the other end of which is pivotally mounted at 40 on a suitable bracket 41 which is carried by any suitable support, in the present instance the casing of an electric microswitch 42 which is in turn mounted on a bracket 43 which comprises a horizontal arm including two telescopically slidable sections 44 and 45 adjustable clamped together by a set screw 46, said arm being vertically adjustably mounted on a post 47 and clamped thereto by a set screw 48. The post 47 has a laterally extending foot portion 49 to which is connected a guide rod 50 which has a head 51 slidable in a recess 52 in the lower end of the shaft 12 and normally influenced downwardly by a compression spring 53. A guide arm 54 is rigidly connected to the lower end of said shaft and has a notch 55 embracing the post 47 to cause the bracket 43 to swing with the shaft.

The lever 39 is normally influenced outwardly or away from the casing of the microswitch 42 by any suitable means, such as a torque spring 56 on the pivot pin 40, having its opposite ends connected to the bracket 41 and to the lever; or the spring of the microswitch could be used for so actuating said lever. The trip roller is normally located about one-eighth of an inch below the shoulder of the plunger with its periphery projecting into the path of movement of a tube as the latter is forced from the plunger, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5, and the microswitch 42 is normally open so that when a tube s pushed off the plunger, the trip roller 38 will be engaged by the tube so as to swing the lever 39 to the right in Figure 5 and thereby close the microswitch.

The bracket 43 is movable longitudinally of the shaft 12 to permit the plunger 4 to descend into tube-extruding position without engagement of the trip roller with the die, and in operation, when the plunger is moved downwardly to tube-extruding position, the foot 49 of the bracket 43 engages the press bed A to stop the downward movement of the trip roller at a point above the die E and permit the plunger to continue its descent into the tubeextruding position, as shown in Figure 3. Then, as the plunger is elevated, the spring 53 holds the bracket 43 in its lower position until the shoulder of the plunger has been moved to a point above the trip roller, as shown in Figure 5, and the head 51 of the bracket guide rod 50 engages the arm 54 (see Figure l), whereupon the bracket 43 continues to rise with the plunger.

The microswitch 42 is connected in circuit with a camoperated switch which is opened and closed in timed relation to the stripping of the tubes from the plunger. Figure 6 is a wiring diagram of said circuit in which the cam-operated switch is designated 57 and is shown as connected in parallel circuit with the microswitch 42 so as to control the circuit through a main relay 58 which in turn controls the circuit through the winding 59 of an electromagnet the armature 60 of which may be connected to any device to be operated upon failure of removal of a tube from the extruding plunger, for example, the clutch 61 which controls the driving mechanism for the press head D. The armature will be normally actuated in one direction to open the clutch by a compression spring 62; and, if desired, the armature lever 69 may be connected to a switch 63 of an auxiliary circuit for a signal, such as a bell 65, so that when the stripper fails to remove a tube from the plunger, the signal 63 will be actuated. Electricity is supplied from any suitable source through line wires L, and a main manually operated control switch 64 may also be provided.

In operation, the cam-operated switch is alternately opened and closed in alternate relation to the opening and closing of the microswitch 42; for example, when the normally open switch 42 is closed by the removal of a collapsible tube from the plunger, the cam-operated switch 57 is open, while when the cam-operated switch is closed, the microswitch 42 is open. During this normal operation, when the main switch 64 is closed, the relay 58 is held closed by one or the other of the switches 42 and 57 so as to keep the winding 59 energized and thereby hold the clutch of the machine closed. Should the stripper fail to remove a tube from the plunger, the switch 42 will not be operated but will remain open so that when the cam-operated switch 57 opens, the circuit through the relay 58 will be opened and thereby cause deenergization of the coil 59 which in turn will permit the clutch to be thrown out to stop the machine and also initiate actuation of the signal 65.

While we have shown and described the invention as embodied in a certain type of press and in certain structural details, it should be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of illustrating the now preferred embodiment of the invention and that many modifications and changes may be made in the construction of the apparatus and the invention may be used in conjunction with other types of tube-extruding machines, all within the spirit and scope of the invention. To avoid circumlocution, the phrase: performing an operation is used in the appended claims to include, for example, the stopping of the extruding plunger, the control of the actuation of an electrically operated machine, or the actuation of a signal.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim l. A machine for extruding tubes comprising a frame, a die mounted thereon and having a die cavity, a head vertically reciprocable on said frame, an extruding plunger carried by said head, means for bodily swinging said plunger into and out of axial alinement with said die cavity upon reciprocation of said head, means for stripping tubes from said extruding plunger, a normally open electric switch having a trip element whose normal position when the plunger is out of said cavity is in the path of a tube as the latter is stripped from said plunger, to be engaged and actuated by the tube before it leaves said plunger to close the switch, means normally yieldingly urging said trip element into said normal position and means for reciprocating said head operation of which is controlled by said switch, a bracket carrying said trip ciprocation of said head, one end to swing about a vertical axis on said head and carrying said plunger at its other end, cooperative members on said frame and said head for swinging said arm horizontally upon reciprocation of said head, a stripper slidable longitudinally of said plunger, a vertical shaft on said head located in the axis of swinging of said arm, a slide reciprocable on said shaft and connected to said stripper, means for reciprocating said slide upon reciprocation of said head, a normally open electric switch having a trip element whose normal position when the plunger is out of said cavity is in the path of a tube as the latter n is stripped from said plunger to be engaged and actuated by the tube before it leaves the plunger to close said switch, means normally yieldingly urging said trip element into said normal position, and means for reciproeating said head, operation of which is controlled by said switch, the lower end of said vertical shaft having a recess, and a bracket carrying said trip element in proxsaid plunger, said bracket being vertically slidably mounted in said recess in said vertical shaft so that the bracket may engage a portion of said continue its descent relatively and movable out of the cavity for stripping of the tube from the plunger, and means for stripping tubes in suc-` cession from said plunger mechanism the operation of which is to be controlled upon failure of movement of a tube from said plunger including a normally opened electric switch having a trip element whose normal position when the plunger is out of the cavity is in spaced relation to said plunger and movable away from the plunger to close the switch so that as a tube is stripped from but before it leaves the plunger it will move between the plunger and said trip element and engage and actuate the latter to close said switch, means normally to yieldingly urge said trip element into said normal position a second continuously operating electric switch alternately opened and closed in timed relation to the normal said plunger, and an electric circuit 1n whlch said sw1tches and an electrical device for actuating said mechanism are connected so that upon a tube from said] plunger, said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,886,458 Witte Nov. 8, 1932 1,972,121 Witte Sept. 4, 1934 2,369,298 Jongedyk Feb. 13, 1945 

